Funky Futuristic Eye Glasses

Opus Design Award Winners

The recent announcement of the winners of the Opus Design Award brought about some pretty cool innovations in practical and designer eyewear.

Solving some of the difficulties encountered in your typical eyeglass scenario, gold prize winner Nick Jinkinson designed a new tack based around the transition lenses that can transition more completely than past lenses could when exposed to the sun.

Other prize winning designs included foldout frames (looking more like the old 3-D specs you got at the movies), built-in lens cleaners, and quizzically, an interesting design that somehow resembles something from the Steve Martin comedy, The Jerk, the Opti-Grab. If I remember rightly, didn't the movie version cause its wearer to become permanently and irreversibly cross-eyed?

Innovative Eyewear Designs
Designing eyeglasses with additional features that solve common difficulties.
Transition Lenses
Designing eyeglasses with transition lenses that can transition more completely when exposed to the sun.
Foldout Frames
Creating eyeglasses with foldout frames that can easily be stored when not in use.

Who This Affects Most

Fashion Industry
Innovative eyewear designs can be marketed and sold in the fashion industry.
Optical Industry
Advancements in transition lenses could disrupt the optical industry and potentially lead to more competitive pricing.
Retail Industry
Foldout frames could introduce a new product line in the retail industry, leading to increased sales and revenue.
SCORE
4.8 out of 10
GENDER
10% Men90% Women
MARKETTop markets: North America, Europe
GENERATION
  • Gen Z
  • Gen Alpha
  • Millennial (primary audience)
  • Gen X (primary audience)
POPULARITY
Popularity 59%
Activity 76%
Freshness 8%

Solutions for innovators working at the edge of change. We help transform emerging ideas into practical, durable solutions by combining strategic thinking, creative exploration, and hands-on execution.

Trends © 2026 Trend Hunter Inc. All Rights Reserved.
LinkedIn Instagram X